Why I Recommend The Google Tv Streamer Over Competing Roku And Amazon Fire Models

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Google TV Streamer is simply a streaming instrumentality that typically sells for $100.
• The Google TV Streamer offers beautiful image, accelerated performance, and nan champion smart location integrations of immoderate Google streaming device.
• It's built for Android users but tin activity pinch iOS, pinch immoderate compromise, and location are only a fewer audio customization options.

I've been a cord cutter for complete a decade and person cycled done each nan awesome streaming device brands available, from nan Google Chromecast to nan Roku Streaming Stick to nan Fire Stick. As personification pinch an Apple TV 4K, an unhealthy magnitude of Fire TVs, a Roku TV, and Roku Ultra, and now a Google TV Streamer moving astatine home, it's safe to opportunity I'm not joined to a azygous smart TV operating system. 

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Testing nan Google TV Streamer took maine backmost to my Chromecast days successful my Android era (shoutout to nan Samsung Note 4, everlastingly successful my heart). Casting contented pinch Chromecast became 2nd quality backmost then, truthful I was excited to effort nan Google TV Streamer.

I've utilized Google TV connected different devices precocious and recovered nan level lacking, truthful I was funny to spot really nan caller Google instrumentality would perform.

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I was pleasantly amazed to find that nan motorboat of nan Google TV Streamer (let's telephone it nan Streamer) coincided pinch a revamp of nan Google TV personification experience. If you're unfamiliar pinch Google TV, its interface is much akin to FireOS than Roku aliases Apple's tvOS. It features categories arranged successful horizontal rows wherever you tin resume watching content, browse apps, aliases research recommendations.  

Google hasn't done overmuch to declutter nan surface of suggested and sponsored content, but it has simplified navigation, made it easier to rearrange apps, and improved nan hunt characteristic -- particularly pinch sound power done Google.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Like nan Apple TV 4K, nan Google TV Streamer deepens nan disagreement successful nan iOS vs. Android battle, which is nary astonishment since its champion integrations are pinch Google-made devices. If you're an iPhone user, don't expect to formed photos aliases videos straight from your autochthonal app to nan Google TV Streamer -- it doesn't support AirPlay. Instead, you must download nan Google Photos app, upload your photos, and formed them to nan Streamer.

One useful characteristic is nan distant finder button. Android users tin inquire Google connected their phones to find nan distant utilizing sound commands, but a beingness fastener connected nan backmost of nan Google TV Streamer makes nan distant beep. Plus, nan Google Home app -- disposable for some Android and iOS -- includes a fastener to ping your remote.

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Unlike nan caller Roku Ultra, nan Google TV Streamer doesn't connection hands-free sound control; you must property and clasp nan microphone fastener to speak to Google. While this mightiness not beryllium a large woody for astir users, particularly Android fans, you won't beryllium capable to say, "Hey Google, find my remote" for illustration you tin pinch nan Roku Ultra.

I tested nan Google TV Streamer pinch some my TV's speakers and a Sonos Era 100 arsenic an outer speaker. Pairing pinch nan Sonos was speedy and seamless, delivering rich, meticulous audio without immoderate synchronization aliases disconnection issues.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

One point I didn't for illustration astir nan Google TV Streamer is nan deficiency of an audio sync tool. I person an Omni Series Fire TV successful my chamber and usage a Fire Stick pinch a VPN to watercourse overseas shows and movies, wherever nan audio often falls retired of sync. I've go each excessively acquainted pinch adjusting audio to lucifer nan video, and I admit that FireOS has a built-in mounting for this. I was hoping nan Google TV Streamer would connection nan aforesaid option, but unfortunately, it doesn't.  

On nan different hand, 1 of my favourite features is thing I didn't initially deliberation overmuch of: nan built-in AI image generator. As a proud (and cheesy) parent, I usually group family photos arsenic my TV's screensaver, isolated from nan beautiful screensavers connected nan Apple TV 4K. While exploring Google TV Streamer's capabilities, I discovered its AI screensaver generator, which was a hit. 

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My kids emotion generative AI, though I'm observant astir really they usage it. They mostly inquire ChatGPT questions astir Minecraft. The Google TV Streamer uses Gemini to make screensavers. Gemini is not only Google's reply to ChatGPT but besides nan sanction of nan ample connection models (LLMs) powering its AI chatbot and image generators.  

The Google TV Streamer is sleek and unobtrusive -- and yes, that's an AI-generated image of pandas wearing pumpkin costumes.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

With Halloween astir nan corner, I thought adding immoderate festive images to nan screensaver would beryllium fun, truthful I asked nan Google TV Streamer to make generic images of jack-o-lanterns, candy, and haunted houses. The images turned retired well, and nan solution looked awesome connected my 43-inch chamber TV.

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Of course, you can't expect perfection from an AI image generator. My kids quickly sewage involved, and now my Halloween screensaver is radiated pinch questionable-looking puppies frolicking successful beforehand of houses pinch oddly shaped windows!

ZDNET's buying advice

Ultimately, nan Google TV Streamer is nan company's champion streaming device. It's noticeably faster, snappier than nan erstwhile Chromecast, and little buggy than FireOS connected my Omni Series Fire TV. It's not arsenic accelerated and intuitive arsenic nan Apple TV 4K, but it is nan cleanable streaming instrumentality for Android users and those who want a reliable provider.

The Google Home integrations further heighten nan smart location experience. The Google TV Streamer besides supports Thread and Matter, allowing it to double arsenic a smart location hub. As personification who regularly tests smart location devices and runs Apple HomeKit, Google Home, SmartThings, and Amazon Alexa, I admit having a instrumentality that serves arsenic a Matter and Thread hub.